Hybrid electroslag cladding

Abstract

A hybrid electroslag cladding method includes the steps of: providing a workpiece ( 6 ) to be cladded; guiding a strip electrode ( 4 ) onto the surface of the workpiece ( 6 ); cladding the strip electrode ( 4 ) onto the surface of the workpiece ( 6 ) using electroslag cladding; guiding a metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire ( 7 ) into the weld puddle ( 9 ) of the strip electrode ( 4 ) for controlling the chemical composition of the cladding.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hybrid electroslag cladding method, the method comprising:
 providing a workpiece to be cladded; 
 guiding a strip electrode onto a surface of the workpiece; 
 cladding the strip electrode onto the surface of the workpiece using electroslag cladding; and 
 guiding a metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire into a weld puddle of the strip electrode for controlling a chemical composition of the cladding, and 
 for a second workpiece requiring stainless steel cladding with a different cladding composition than the workpiece, selecting a second metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire for controlling a chemical composition of the cladding of the second workpiece, 
 wherein the chemical composition of the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire differs from the chemical composition of the second metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 using a flux of a given composition for the workpiece and the second workpiece. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 controlling at least one of a stickout length of the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire, a feed speed of the strip electrode, and a feed speed of the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the feed speed of the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire is changed if a change of the feed speed of the strip electrode is detected. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire is heated. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire includes a stainless steel base sheath and a metal powder flux within the stainless steel base sheath, and
 wherein the wire has a composition that is defined by WIRE 308L, WIRE 347, WIRE 316L, or WIRE 317L. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein for the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire an upper limit of at least one element in the composition is one of 5%, 10% or 20% lower than that defined in the respective WIRE 308L, WIRE 347, WIRE 316L, or WIRE 317L. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein for the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire a lower limit of at least one element in the composition is one of 5%, 10% or 20% higher than that defined in the respective WIRE 308L, WIRE 347, WIRE 316L, or WIRE 317L. 
     
     
       9. A hybrid electroslag cladding system, comprising:
 a cladding head for guiding a strip electrode onto a surface of a workpiece to be cladded with the strip electrode; 
 a cladding power supply for providing power to the strip electrode for arcless deposition onto the surface of the workpiece; and 
 a flux feeder for at least one of depositing flux on the strip electrode and depositing flux adjacent the strip electrode, 
 wherein the cladding head is configured to guide a metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire into a weld puddle of the strip electrode, 
 wherein the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire has a composition that is defined by one of WIRE 625, WIRE 600, WIRE 825, WIRE 400, WIRE 308L, WIRE 347, WIRE 316L, or WIRE 317L, and 
 wherein the hybrid electroslag cladding system further comprises a steering magnet disposed adjacent the strip electrode for steering the weld puddle magnetically. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a hot wire power supply for heating the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire; and 
 a controller for controlling at least one of a temperature of the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire according to a desired deposition rate, a stickout length of at least one of the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire the and the strip electrode, a feed speed of the strip electrode, and a feed speed of the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein an angle between at least one of the strip electrode and the metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wire and the surface of the workpiece is adjustable. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the cladding head guides at least two metal cored hybrid electroslag cladding wires disposed adjacent to each other into the weld puddle.